Artist: Willy Derby
Author: Willy Derby/Enrico Paoli
Label: Parlophon Beka
Year: 1929

Popular tearjerker written following his tour of Indonesia and the official opening of a direct telephone link between Indonesia and homeland the Netherlands. See footnote.

Bandoeng was to become the new capital of Dutch colony Indonesia, had it not obtained its independence in 1949 (when the city was renamed Bandung officially). Unlike Jakarta, located by the sea, Bandoeng had a higher location, milder temperatures and was potentially a better choice for direct radio contact with the homeland soon as such communication was enabled through a short-wave link between Kootwijk near The Hague and Malabar near Bandoeng. It was the queen-mother Emma who in January 1929 opened this radio line for the public, with these words: Hallo Bandoeng, hier Den Haag. Hoort U mij? Giant leap for Dutch mankind, but considered the price not available for anyone's purse. It cost thirty guilders for the first three minutes, which is exactly the time lapse of one song, inspiring Willy Derby. In his song an old mother repeats queen-mother Emma's opening words to her son overseas. The emotions liberated after so many years of separation were stretched when by surprise the old mother also hears the voice of her youngest grandson adressing her. That's when the conversation stocked. Was she too overwhelmed? Did she die or did they just cross the three minute mark, of both telephone call and 78RPM?